Chastleton Medical Group
Lead Practice Nurse
The closing date is 10 December 2026
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Job summary
Chastleton Medical Group is a well-established, friendly, and forward-thinking GP practice serving the local community in the heart of County Durham. We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Lead Practice Nurse to join our dedicated multidisciplinary team.

This is an exciting opportunity for a nurse with a strong interest in diabetes care and chronic disease management to lead and develop our nursing services, helping to deliver outstanding patient-centred care to our practice population.

As our Lead Practice Nurse, you will play a key role in delivering clinical services, supporting colleagues, and driving quality improvement across long-term condition management.

Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will:

• Lead and support the practice nursing team.
• Support the delivery of services for patients with long-term conditions, particularly diabetes.
• Undertake chronic disease reviews including diabetes, asthma, COPD, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.
• Work collaboratively with GPs, pharmacists, healthcare assistants, and the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Support achievement of Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) targets and service development initiatives.
• Deliver evidence-based care and promote patient self-management.
• Participate in clinical audit, quality improvement projects, and service planning.
• Provide mentorship and clinical leadership for nursing colleagues.

About us

• A welcoming and supportive practice team.
• Opportunity to lead and influence service development.
• Well-established patient population and strong community links.
• Ongoing professional development and training opportunities.
• Flexible working options and a positive work-life balance.
• The chance to make a real difference to the health of our local community.

Details
Date posted: 06 November 2026
Pay scheme: Other
Salary: Depending on experience
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
Reference number: A5721-26-0012
Job locations: Chastleton Medical Group, Newton Drive, Durham, DH1 5BH, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities

• Lead long-term condition management having a special interest in Diabetes within the organisation, supporting quality improvement and assurance initiatives
• Support the current Infection Prevention Control (IPC) lead and work to the IPC Policy helping to provide audits, training, support and evidence of compliance. To produce the IPC annual statement in conjunction with the Business Manager
• Consult with patients and their families to undertake assessments of patient need
• Support public health and screening programmes, including immunisations, vaccinations, and cervical screening
• Embed population health management approaches within general practice, targeting health inequalities and improving access
• As required, provide routine nursing care to patients in accordance with clinical based evidence, NICE and the NSF
• Support, mentor, and supervise new-to-practice nurses and other healthcare professionals within the organisation
• Be an integral part of the general practice team as well as supporting the wider practice nurse network and multi-disciplinary team
• Prescribe medication for patients in accordance with PGDs and own scope of practice
• Teach and advise patients and their families on how to manage their condition
• Participate in clinical audits and research projects and implements changes as required, including supporting with the development, and updating of practice protocols/guidelines and procedures locally
• Work within national and local protocols where these exist
• Recognise the boundaries of their practice and know when and to whom patients should be referred
• Demonstrate initiative and be creative in finding solutions to problems
• Provide supervision to student nurse associates and nurse associates
• Support in the delivery of enhanced services and other service requirements
• Be aware of duties and responsibilities regarding current legislation and adhere to practice policies and procedures on safeguarding adults and safeguarding children
• Participate in the management of patient complaints when requested to do so and participate in the identification of any necessary learning brought about through incidents and near-miss events
• Undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes
• Contribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governance
• Attend a formal appraisal with their manager at least every 12 months. Once a performance/training objective has been set, progress will be reviewed on a regular basis so that new objectives can be agreed
• Contribute to public health campaigns (e.g., flu clinics)
• Maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all times
• Contribute to practice targets (QOF, etc.), complying with relevant guidance
• Maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation ensuring that SNOMED CT codes are used effectively
• Maintain chronic disease registers and implement an effective call/recall system
• Chaperone patients where necessary
• Support the team in dealing with clinical emergencies
• Liaise with external services/agencies to ensure the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients, etc.)
• Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate

There may be, on occassion, a requirement to carry out other tasks, this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levles.

Person Specification
Clinical Knowledge & Skills
Essential

• Experience of Practice Nurse skills including wound care, ECG, venepuncture and new patient medicals
• Requesting pathology tests and processing the results, advising patients accordingly
• Understanding the importance of evidence-based practice
• Ability to promote best practice regarding nursing matters
• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to GPs
• Good clinical system IT knowledge and has an ability to record accurate clinical notes
• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people at all levels by telephone, email and face to face
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing, negotiation and organisation skills with the ability to constructively challenge the view and practices of managers and clinicians
• Understanding of safeguarding adults and children
• Understanding and knowledge of healthcare provision in GP surgeries, QOF and enhanced service
• Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient

Desirable

• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• Awareness of issues within the wider health arena and knowledge of health promotion strategies
• Knowledge of national standards that inform general practice (NSF NICE guidelines)
• Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required

Experience
Essential

• Broad knowledge of general practice
• Experience of chronic disease management
• Experience of working autonomously

Desirable

• Experience of infection prevention and control measures
• Experience of quality initiatives, i.e., benchmarking
• Experience of managing elderly and housebound patients
• An appreciation of the new NHS landscape including the relationship between individual organisations, PCNs and the commissioners

Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council)
• Holds more than one academic Level 6 diploma or postgraduate certification in long-term conditions care and/or public health initiatives
• Has evidence of working at an enhanced level of practice as described in the Primary Care and General Practice Nursing Career and Core Capabilities Framework
• Has demonstrable experience in leading long-term conditions management and quality improvement

Desirable

• Mentor or teaching qualification
• Completed or working towards formal infection prevention and control training
• Family planning qualification

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Effective time management (planning and organising)
• Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure
• Ability to follow legal, ethical and professional policies/local policies/procedures and codes of conduct
• Understand the requirement for PGDs and associated policy
• Ability to use own initiative, discretion, and sensitivity
• Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
• Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Good interpersonal and organisational skills
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Commitment to ongoing professional development
• Knowledge of and ability to work to key policies and procedures
• Clear, polite telephone manner

Desirable

• Knowledge of IT systems including the ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet
• Effectively utilise resources

Other Requirements

• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• Occupational Health clearance
• Meet the requirements and produce evidence for professional revalidation
• Evidence of CPD commensurate with the role
• Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality
• Flexibility to work outside core office hours

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Chastleton Medical Group
Address: Chastleton Medical Group, Newton Drive, Durham, DH1 5BH, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.chastletonmedicalgroup.co.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Business Manager Victoria Reed, nencicb-cd.a83036-eds@nhs.net, 01913846171

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